The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-09

Q, b. Hawden. in New England Farmer.
There is no definite limit which we can fix as
to the probable duration of any given fruit
vegeta BILE, and there are very few data for form
ing any theory upon the subject The period of
life of any fruit or vegetable is affected very
much by circumstances as to soil. climate,
method of propagation and culture, and these
influences may be mixed in their effects that
it will be very hard to say what might be due to
constitutional degeneracy or weakness, and what
to circumstances of culture. Among much that
is purely coDjectural and speculative, however.
connected with this subject, there some
facts that cannot be disputed which may throw
some light upon it.
The pear was planted early in the history of
country. In 1868 we find records of pears in
cultivation; it is tree that thrives from So
north latitude to the plains of Mexico. 1t is.
however, comparatively shortlved III southern
climates. and varieties imported from France
to this country not, a rule, long lived.
Grating the pear tends to shorten the life and
impair the vigor of any variety, and since all
varieties are multiplied in this way. it becomes
a question of time to how long any variety
can be expected to live. Fifty or sixty Srs ago
the ST. Michael was justly esteemed best
pear grown; it is now entirely abandon The
Flemish Beauty is another excellenl .ar of
twenty or thirty years ago. but is fast going out
of use
In 1888 Mr. VIM. Kenrick published list of
twelve ole varieties of pears none of which are
grown to-day, and eighty-seven new kinds. of
which seventeen are now occasionally seen, four
OF these still survive as valuable pears the BART
lett. Bose, Seekel and Duchess. In 1889 Mr.. W.
r. Prince, of Flushing, l.. l., published a list of
367 varieties of pears OF these thirteen now sur
vive. There have been many hundreds Of new
varieties imported since then, of which less than
twenty are retained as worth cultivation; many
of these, of course. were rejected for various
other reasons, but many would still be In culti-
yasion if they had not degenerated Much de-
ponds in grating pears upon vigorous and con-
genial stocks variety vigorous on coDgenlal
stock frequently proves worthless upon others
less suited to its needs
Apples are longerlived than pears and less
subject to degeneration. They have been pop
ular fruit for over two hundred years, and many
trees still vigoro US are known to be 100 years
old. Even grated trees are known to have lived
sixty years and over when in favorable condi-
tons as to SOIL ETC.. but other orchards, not oyer
forty-fve years old and highly cultivated, had
shown strong signs of failure.
OF sixty varieties of apples. cultivated fifty
years ago, forty now remain. Among good
varieties that have failed recently are the early
| harvest and Newtown pippin, but the Rhode
| Island greening is good now as 100 years ago,
| and in England the Costard has been favorite
| apple since the thirteenth century.
| In the peach we see the tendency to degener-
| aey moro marked especially where budded or
| grated as is generally done.
| When grown from pits it is more vigorous and
/ satisfactory. and we can obtain varieties re-
! sembling the parent, though not Identical, as by
| budding. Formerly, before building was gener-
| ally practiced, the "yellows" were unknown.
! This disease was first noticed in 1878
! The peach, however, at best is very pre-
/ carious fruit in our climate.
| Cherries and plums do not seem to degenerate
| at all: the same varieties grown now tina,
| were we'll known one hundred years ago, and are
/ quite as good as ever.